Pat Kenney

KINGSPORT — Cold, blustery conditions failed to deter area athletes as they gathered for the annual Tri-Cities track and field championships Wednesday at the Dan Crowe/Tom Coughenour track at Dobyns-Bennett.

The Lady Indians' Krystall Derr and Tennessee High's Samantha Gudger breezed through the field events and around the track to be named Co-Outstanding Female Performers of the meet.

Derr, a senior started her day with a victory in the shot put. Her throw of 34 feet-6 inches was four feet better than the next competitor. She cruised to wins in both the 100 (12.42) and 200 meters (26.07).

Gudger won the high jump at 5-4 and finished second in the long jump with a leap of 16-7. She also won the 100 hurdles (16.23) and 300 hurdles (48.79).

Tennessee High's Travis Clark posted impressive victories in the 200m (23.05) and 400m (52.60) and ran legs on the Vikings' winning 4x100 and 4x400m relays. For his efforts, Clark was named the meet's Outstanding Male Performer.

D-B's Adriana Watkins, the TSSAA Class AAA defending champion in the girls triple jump is off to another great start. She captured the triple jump with a leap of 37-4, over 5-feet ahead of second place. Watkins also won the long jump (16-11), finished second in the 300m hurdles (48.89) and was second in the high jump (5-2).